Summary: Eriol, a prodigy in the making who is always bullied; Syaoran, a transfer student from China with a troubled past and no friends; and Sakura, a beautiful girl full of nothing but optimism and always half full rather than half empty. As if life wasn't hard enough, when their lives intermingle and two boys fall for a girl, who's only supposed to live until her graduation . . . well, this is their story.
a/n: Thank you for your support in the first chapter. I hope you enjoy this one as well :)
By: Shinigami 42-42-564's Friend
September 14, 2010
Again . . . shards of glass on the floor. The last thing I remember from the other night was being in rage once again. Anger, sorrow, melancholy . . . I wanted to know, but I couldn't remember. Why couldn't I remember? It wasn't fair. I just want to be able to remember what happened. That girl, the blood—
After meeting Tomoyo, I didn't bother finishing school that day. I couldn't take anything else in. I was already a week late and now I only attended half of my first day of school. How amazing was that, huh? Pretty amazing I tell you.
I went to school about an hour early. I wanted to enjoy the view from the third floor skywalk. It was beautiful looking out into the north. I could see everything in Tomoeda . . . especially the Tomoeda tower—but I guess you could see that from anywhere in the city.
Tomoeda was a fairly large city. Not quite as big as Tokyo, but it could come close. I haven't gotten a chance to really look around the city yet, but I was hoping to do it soon.
Looking down to the south into the courtyard, I eyed the bench under the cherry blossom tree that I slept on before Tomoyo approached me. "She only has until her last year of high school to live," I remember her saying. Was she really telling me the truth? Or was she just trying to get me to become a slave for that girl?
I shook my head. It was all just a set-up! But then . . . Tomoyo cried after I began laughing about what she had said. Death . . . death . . . death . . . it wasn't funny. I glowered.
"Guess I'll just have to see for myself eventually," I murmured to myself. "This school's weird."
With about ten minutes left, I made my way back down to my class on the second level and took my seat. A few minutes later, that kid, Eriol, came to take his seat—but he didn't do it before giving me the nastiest look a nerd could get. His thick glasses reminded me of that British novel, Harry Potter.
I looked out the window. I didn't want to see him either. What luck though, "Having to be sitting behind him this whole semester."
"What did you say?" Eriol exclaimed as he turned around with fury in his eyes.
Crap, did I say that out loud? "You heard me, kid." I gave him a glare. This time, he seemed to hesitate for a second. I expected him to say something back to me, but all he did was spin back around like he was afraid of me. That was easy, I thought.
When Terada came in, he greeted the class and immediately started writing something on the chalk board. When he turned, there was a, "Opening Day Festival" written on it.
"As you all know," started the sensei, "next weekend in our Opening Day Festival. But there are two things we need to do before we can prepare for that. One, is to choose a class president. Anyone want to volunteer?"
None, no one wanted to raise their hands.
"Anyone want to elect a candidate?" Terada asked.
After a moment of silence, someone, a boy, said, "Just let Eriol be class president. He's always it anyway."
I could see Eriol glower and sink into his desk in front of me. I lined my eyebrows towards him. This guy's weird. Does he really not have any confidence to be a class president? I guess I shouldn't really be talking. I have no idea what this class president thin even is.
"Yeah, just let him," another person yelled.
"No one else is going to volunteer," another.
I stared around the class. Wow, this kid really gets picked on quite a bit. I was impressed.
The chair in front of me bumped into my desk and Eriol got up. He slowly, and unwillingly, made his way to the front of the class. I didn't like the guy, but something told me that I should feel sorry for him.
"A—alright. I'll be class president," he said. I expected an applaud, but there was none.
Terada nodded. "Okay then. Eriol-kun is our president. Now the second part is where the fun is: the ones who will be deciding the theme of this festival is between the second years, you guys, and the third years. If you guys remember last year when you were first years, the first years will be the ones to sit back and see what kind of festival you guys can do."
A student raised her hand. "How will we decide who gets to choose the theme?"
"A game of baseball," said Terada.
The whole class replied with a, "Huh?" Even Eriol looked confused.
"The class presidents from each class from second and third years will manage and create a baseball team using students and friends from their respected grades. Presidents can't be a part of the active roster, but they can manage it."
A baseball game huh? Baseball wasn't really a big thing back in China. I was wondering if it was a big thing here. From the look of Eriol, though, he didn't seem so confident. I was wondering if anyone would've even wanted to participate in this thing . . . especially with him running things. But I guess he'll have other class presidents with him as well.
During the lunch break, I didn't go to the courtyard to rest my head again. Instead, I made my way to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Really though, I felt like a loner. I didn't know anyone and I really didn't care to know anyone. But sadly, just as I got to the cafeteria, I reached into my pockets and frowned. I didn't bring any money.
"What a drag . . ."I said to myself.
I wandered the halls aimlessly. Needed time to kill. For a moment I really thought about what my life was going to be like if I had to live here for the next two years. If it was going to continue being like this, I think I'd kill myself.
I was making my way to class so I could just rest my head, but then the class of 2-D took my attention—a class just a couple doors down the hall closer to the south end. I peeked into the half-empty classroom. Mini groups were laughing and having a good time. Other mini groups were eating their bentos. But what struck my attention was the three weirdoes from yesterday. Eriol, the kid from my class—our class president—that Sakura girl . . . and the other girl: Tomoyo.
Then it hit me . . . about what Tomoyo said to me. Then I thought about what I said to Sakura . . . "Drop dead, girl." I chuckled to myself. If what Tomoyo said was true, then what I said to Sakura was pretty brutal. I felt kind of bad . . . guess it's not really the best way to give out first impressions. Regardless, I stepped into the room with hands in my pocket almost as if I was relentlessly forcing myself to go in. I wanted out.
When I approached the three, Eriol quickly gave me another death-stare. I guess I couldn't really expected anything less. Sakura saw Eriol's face and turned to see me. She smiled—surprisingly—and Tomoyo looked as if she was surprised, but not angry, to see me.
"Oh, Li-kun! What a pleasant surprise," said Tomoyo.
I looked at Eriol, who wanted me to die, I'm sure. "He doesn't think so."
"What do you want?" He blasted with a fist. I tried not to look at him.
But I did turn my attention to Sakura. "Hey . . . look. About what I said—"
"Don't you even dare talk to her!" Eriol screamed—very animated by the way.
"I'm trying to say something here kid, shut up!" I finally screamed back with a fist in the air—just as animated.
"I'm not a kid! I'm in the same grade as you!"
"Ladies, ladies!" Tomoyo held her hands out in front of us. She cleared her throat and said, "You were saying, Li-kun?"
"As I was saying," I returned to Sakura, "about what I said . . . I'm sorry." For some reason . . . it felt really uncomfortable for me to say that. It wasn't like I had anything against her or anything.
"It's okay!"
Eriol and I looked at Sakura with the same surprised look.
"Huh? I said.
Sakura smiled. "Your apology has been accepted!"
"O—oh . . ."
"You are new right? I'm Kinomoto Sakura—these two are my friends, Daidouji Tomoyo and—"
"Yeah, we don't need to get to him." I quickly cut in before she got to Eriol.
"Why you—"
"Anyways, that's all I came here to do, so see ya!" I turned to leave, but then again I hear a,
"Neh, Syaoran-kun!"
I stopped. "Hmm?"
"I don't think he deserves you calling his first name," complained Eriol.
This guy was really starting to get on my nerves. No wonder he gets picked on a lot.
"Are you going to do anything after school?" Sakura asked.
I thought about it for a moment. "N—no . . ."
"Want to come window shopping with us then?"
Eriol's jaw dropped. "What?" he exclaimed. Honestly though, I couldn't have agreed more.
I made a face. "Huh?"
"You heard me," Sakura smiled, "come on! You don't really know anyone so might as well come hang out with us, right?"
"You're not really gonna make me go with you," I said.
Sakura cocked her head. "I'm not making you. I'm just asking."
I looked at Tomoyo. She hadn't said a word but she was smiling as if she knew that I was going to say yes or something. Eriol, on the other hand, was obviously hoping for the opposite. This was sudden though. I didn't really register things correctly . . . or did I? The girl I just met and told to drop dead was asking me to go with them to . . . window shop. Who goes window shopping?
I turned around. "No, I'm good," I said.
The Taste of Salt
I ended up going. This was pathetic, I thought. From the looks of Eriol, as the four of us strolled in the downtown of Tomoeda, he agreed as well. So there we are, pacing ourselves. I walked beside the right side of Tomoyo, Eriol had the other side, and Sakura took the lead.
Downtown Tomoeda was a lot bigger than I thought. In Hong Kong, our streets were flooded—almost unable to walk anywhere. But here, it was about just as big . . . but with not as much people. Still a lot, but I could run around if I wanted to.
We traveled alongside a strip; passing by windows, entering shops to just look at things. Other than me enjoying the sight, the window shopping part of it was pretty boring. Sakura, though, seemed to have enjoyed it. I must've been pretty lonely to have decided to come last minute. Ugh.
We crossed a fairly large intersection with a group of people. I looked up and saw nothing but four giant buildings on each of the corners of the intersection covering the sky. In fact, it wasn't just the corners. Giant buildings were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, connected, to one another for blocked beyond blocks. I was amazed. Awed.
Tomoeda . . . wasn't bad.
Once we crossed, Sakura pointed us to a store a couple doors from the corner. It was a candy shop.
"Come on," said Sakura like she was exhilarated to see the candy shop. "Let's go!"
I turned away. "Uhh . . . no."
Sakura placed her hands on her hips and gave me a pout. "Alright, mister, when I come out then, you better have some candy!"
I felt a sweat drop from my left eye. Really? She wasn't serious, was she? She acts like such a kid.
Sakura bolted into the candy shop. Eriol, probably not wanting to be by me, followed. Tomoyo stayed with me though.
Tomoyo looked at me and I looked back. This whole time, she hadn't really said a word. She sure was quiet.
"I'm glad you came, Li-kun," she smiled. All of this smiling really started to creep me out now.
"Well . . . I had nothing to do," I replied.
"Yeah, I know that."
I made a face. Just then, what Tomoyo said to be the other day about Sakura came back to me. I never really thought about it much. I guess I was too busy laughing back then and was a bit too caught up in my own moment afterwards.
"H—hey . . ." I faded.
"Hmm?"
"What you said to me about her . . . the other day . . . is it really true?"
Tomoyo looked as if she was expecting me to mention it again. She inched closer to me and looked at the candy shop as if scanning to see if Sakura was around.
"Yeah . . . it's true. Everyone in school knows about her. That's why, you'll notice, she's treated kind of . . . special I guess you can say."
I thought about what I said to her the other day. Drop dead . . . Really wasn't the best of word choices there. "Not the best choice of words," I repeated, this time out loud.
Tomoyo gave a little giggle and nodded. "You really gave Eriol-kun a spark. Usually he's not like that towards others."
I gagged at his name. "Ugh, that kid."
"Eriol-kun and Sakura-chan are really close friends—even closer than Sakura-chan and I. They get kind of . . . defensive towards each other, as you saw."
When I thought about it, I did see it. When that kid got picked on, Sakura came to his rescue. And when I told off Sakura, he came to her rescue . . . "So are they . . ."
"Who, those two? Oh no. They're not dating or anything."
"Oh—"
Tomoyo immediately surprised me with a nose-to-nose encounter, "Don't you get any ideas, Mister."
"Ugh, no," I said taking a step back. "I'll pass." Tomoyo laughed. "But," I continued, "What is her condition? Why is she . . . only supposed to live for another two years?"
For the first time, since the other day when I laughed in her face, Tomoyo glowered and looked off to the side. I could tell that talking about Sakura and her health condition was a soft spot.
"No one knows," she said. "I've known her for as long as I can remember, but the doctors and her family just doesn't know. Everything about her is fine, the doctors say; but she's had multiple occurrences back when she was younger if suddenly collapsing and falling unconscious . . . and even getting really, really sick to the point she missed out on two months of school. Doctors tried diagnosing her, but they never found out what was going on. All they said was that she wouldn't make it past her graduation year . . ."
A tear started to fall as Tomoyo tried holding back a cry. Damn, I wasn't expecting this.
"I—I'm sorry . . ." I said. But really? Sakura's missed two months of school? That's outrageous.
Tomoyo shook her head. "No, it's okay. Anyways, for the past couple of years, she's been fine. No collapsing, but the doctors and her family are still being careful with her. It's amazing that they even let her out by herself in her condition."
"So . . . nothing's happened for a couple years, right? So she should be fine then, right?"
Tomoyo shrugged. "Maybe . . . hopefully . . ." She looked over at the candy shop and saw Sakura and Eriol already at the register with a bag full of surgery sweets. Tomoyo acted with urgency and came up to me almost as if to whisper. "But hey. Don't ever mention to Sakura-chan or anyone about her health situation, okay?"
I flinched back. "Huh, but why?"
Tomoyo sighed. "No one likes to talk about it . . . it's like a taboo. Would you like it if someone reminded you that you were going to die?"
The tip of my tongue started to hurt. I was biting down pretty hard on it, catching my mouth. Again, I thought back to what I said about Sakura the other day—when I told her to drop dead. That's why she froze . . . she must've been really hurt. Dengit, Syaoran, you really had a bad choice of words back there.
When Sakura and Eriol came up to us with her cheery smile, Tomoyo two-faced herself and went from melancholy to glee.
"Welcome back!" she greeted Sakura.
Sakura dug into her bag of sweets and shoved a circular lollipop in my face. "Now, eat!"
It took me a second to register and come back to reality. "O—oh . . ." I stared at Tomoyo, who just smiled like she always did. I turned to Sakura and the lollipop she still had shoved in my face. She stared at me like giving me candy was some sort of redemption. "I—okay." I took it and stuffed it in my mouth.
Probably the sweetest thing I've had to eat in a long time.
The next place we went to was an antique store on the other side of the block, buildings still overhead like they could block out any rain. Inside was very old fashioned. Lighting was very dim, almost as if only candles were lit. Everything inside was beautiful though. A chandelier hung from a fairly low ceiling, clocked—grandfather clocks—in every corner of the room.
Instruments of all new and old were placed on tables and in cases around the store. I departed my own and wandered through an aisle. Random stuff was in cases: watches, books, a music box . . . a music box . . . the same glass music box that I had.
Suddenly I found myself drawn to it. It was probably just my eyes, but the dim room got even dimmer as if I was in some sort of a trance. The picture of the same girl with blood on my hands flashed over and over again. This time though, it was raining hard. The picture was clearer. I saw myself, holding onto a girl in the rain. I was crying . . . calling for help . . . but no one in this blackness would help.
"—kun."
"—ran-kun"
"Syaoran-kun."
I snapped back. The lights around me brightened just a little bit. I held a hand against my forehead. A flashback? I looked outside, it was raining. Then I looked at Sakura who was beside me.
"Syaoran-kun, are you okay?" she asked. I nodded. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
It was beautiful. But it always panged me to see it.
"H—hey . . ." I said softly. Sakura looked at me. "I . . . I have to go."
Sudden confusion blanketed onto Sakura's face. "Huh? But it's raining—wait, Syaoran-kun!"
Too late. I was already out the door. I probably could've waited for the rain to die down a little bit. The rain was hasn't hard-falling but was definitely heavy. Each drop was like being hit with a small bebe-gun. I felt kind of bad though . . . my first time hanging out with anyone and I didn't even say goodbye to them. Well, that Eriol kid I didn't want to see I guess. But I'll see them tomorrow anyway.
The Taste of Salt
I threw my school bag on the ground and immediately went straight into my room. There it was, the glass music box—the same one as the antique shop—but this one had the same, maybe even deeper, scratches and scathes on it. I made a random sobbing noise and weakly made my way to it. Black and white blank memories shot at me. Even though they didn't have a picture, it struck me so hard that I wanted to cry again.
I grabbed it with both hands. "Why?" I said. "What happened . . ." My grip on the music box got tighter. Why can't I remember anything? These blank images that hurt . . . the girl in my arms . . . the blood . . . what happened? "What happened?" I screamed and volleyed the glass music box across the room again. It shattered, breaking into even more pieces.
I slammed myself onto my bed, scuffed my head, and groaned. I held back my tears. I didn't want to cry again. It seemed so pointless. But the best way to relieve your sorrow was to cry, right? But why was I feeling so sad? Most of all, why can't I remember the girl? What happened?
That night, I wept until I fell asleep.
